Since when did rocks cry out? Where on earth did this idea even come from? Straight from the Bible, that’s where. This piece is in the tradition of a true spiritual but has a known author, Hall Johnson. I had a hard time nailing down whether or not Johnson actually wrote the song or simply arranged it, but I managed to come across this clear statement: “’Ain’t Got Time to Die’ is an original Spiritual with words and music by Hall Johnson.” (“The Hall Johnson Concert Spirituals“) Let me quote Mr. Johnson himself on the subject of this music:
True enough, this music was transmitted to us through humble channels, but its source is that of all great art everywhere—the unquenchable, divinely human longing for a perfect realization of life. It traverses every shade of emotion without spilling over in any direction. Its most tragic utterances are without pessimism, and its lightest, brightest moments have nothing to do with frivolity. In its darkest expressions there is always a hope, and in its gayest measures a constant reminder. Born out of the heart-cries of a captive people who still did not forget how to laugh, this music covers an amazing range of mood. Nevertheless, it is always serious music and should be performed seriously, in the spirit of its original conception. (Wikipedia)
The idea of rocks crying out comes from the story of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem the week before the Crucifixion. Christian churches celebrate this event on Palm Sunday, one week before Easter. Christ comes riding into the city on a donkey, people gather around, throw their cloaks on the ground before Him, and wave palm branches (or branches of some kind–that part isn’t clear, regardless of those construction-paper palm branches that children make every year in Sunday school). The disciples cry out, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” The Pharisees are scandalized and tell Jesus to tell the disciples to be quiet because (almost certainly, as they are scholars of Scripture) they realize that this salutation is an echo of verses from Psalm 118: ”Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession.” At the very least the disciples are saying that Christ has been sent by God; at most, that He is the Messiah. As far as the Pharisees are concerned, this is blasphemy.
They get this response: “And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:40 KJV) Why does Jesus say that? Commentators have dug out a wealth of meaning from this one sentence. There’s even a reference earlier in this same Psalm to “the stone that the builders rejected” becoming “the cornerstone,” an idea echoed in the Christian New Testament books of Hebrews and I Peter as specific references to Christ. It’s always a good idea, though, to at least start with the simple, literal meaning of a passage. If the disciples are barred from proclaiming Jesus as King, the idea is so powerful that it will burst out somewhere else, even from the insentient rocks. And this idea is clearly what is meant in our spiritual: If I don’t do what I should in praising God, the truth will not be stopped; it will come out somehow.
So the speaker keeps busy praising, serving and working. He knows that it’s not literally true that he “ain’t got time to die.” Everybody has time for that! But he certainly doesn’t have time to worry about it, which I think is more what the song means. I hear an echo of these words in a typical phrase used today: “I don’t have time for this,” usually said in a moment of irritation about something trivial, so not, perhaps, a very spiritual take on the idea. As I was revising this paragraph, though, I remembered a more profound version from a memoir by Anne Lamott:
But about a month before my friend Pammy died, she said something that may have permanently changed me.
We had gone shopping for a dress for me to wear that night to a nightclub with the man I was seeing at the time. Pammy was in a wheelchair, wearing her Queen Mum wig, the Easy Rider look in her eyes. I tried on a lavender minidress, which is not my usual style. I tend to wear big, baggy clothes. People used to tell me I dressed like John Goodman. Anyway, the dress fit perfectly, and I came out to model it for her. I stood there feeling very shy and self-conscious and pleased. Then I said, ‘Do you think it makes my hips look too big?’ and she said to me slowly, “Annie? I really don’t think you have that kind of time.” (from the memoir Bird by Bird, quoted by Gretchen Rubin.)
Here’s an excellent performance under the director of the famed Rene Clausen:
Here are the lyrics:
Lord I keep so busy praisin’ my Jesus
Keep so busy praisin’ my Jesus
Keep so busy praisin’ my Jesus
Ain’t got time to die
‘Cause when I’m helpin’ the sick (I’m praisin’ my Jesus)
When I’m helpin’ the sick (I’m praisin’ my Jesus)
When I’m helpin’ the sick (I’m praisin’ my Jesus)
Ain’t got time to die
Cause it takes all of my time
To praise my jesus
All of my time
To praise my lord
If I don’t praise Him the rocks are gonna cry out
Glory and honor, glory and honor
Ain’t got time to die
Lord I keep so busy workin’ for the kingdom (workin’ and I’m workin’)
Keep so busy workin’ for the kingdom (workin’ and I’m workin’)
Keep so busy workin’ for the kingdom (workin’ and I’m workin’)
Ain’t got time to die
‘Cause when I’m feedin’ the poor (I’m workin’ for the kingdom)
When I’m feedin’ the poor (I’m workin’ for the kingdom)
When I’m feedin’ the poor (I’m workin’ for the kingdom)
Ain’t got time to die
Lord I keep so busy servin’ my master (keep so busy)
Keep so busy servin’ my master (I’m servin’)
Keep so busy servin’ my master
Ain’t got time to die
‘Cause when I’m givin’ my all (I’m servin’
My master) (I’m gonna give my all to Jesus)
When I’m givin’ my all (I’m servin’ my
Master) (I’m gonna give my all in all)
When I’m givin’ my all (I’m servin’ my
Master) (I’m givin’ all of my life to Him)
Ain’t got time to die
Now won’t you get it out of my way
Let me praise jesus (oh get out of my way)
Get out of my way let me plaise my lord (you better get out of my way)
If I don’t praise Him the rocks are gonna cry out
Glory and honor, glory and honor
Ain’t got time to die
© Debi Simons
